If anybody looked to be nervous, it was Watson, who has signed to play at USC and is expected to go somewhat early in the upcoming Major League Baseball amateur draft. Actually, it was more like over-amped than it was nerves.

Watson had control problems early, especially with his fastball, and it cost Lakewood (25-7).

Watson’s first pitch of the game, a fastball, was buried into the dirt about 2 feet shy of home plate. After getting the first two batters, he plunked Austin Sojka in the back. Sojka then advanced on a wild pitch and scored on an ensuing single into right field by Jake Bauers to give Marina the only run it needed.

“Watson was not himself,” said Lakewood coach Spud O’Neil, who did indicate that Watson’s start to the game was somewhat typical. “If Watson threw like we know he can, we’d still be playing.”

The Vikings (17-10), the second-place team out of the Sunset League, pushed across an insurance run in the sixth. DH Grant Mayeaux drove a Watson offering into the left-field corner for a two-out double, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Trevor Zeller’s comebacker that struck Watson in the thigh.

Watson ended up going the distance, allowing the two runs on six hits and three walks and striking out just six.

After a postgame meeting on the outfield grass, Watson meandered to the mound, kicked some dirt around and seemed in deep thought. It was a tough way to leave his decorated prep career. However, his future remains very bright.

“It’s a big letdown,” he said. “All year I worked for this. It’s a big letdown. … I felt good (warming up). In the game, I overpowered myself and got ahead of myself.”

If Olivas can duplicate in his senior year what he did Friday, his future will be bright, too.

In his best start of the year, Olivas kept the Lancers off balance all day. He didn’t give up a hit until the third and walked just three batters and struck out four.

“We should have been able to score two runs,” said O’Neil, whose team only got the leadoff runner on in one inning. “But we didn’t, and I tip my hat to Olivas.”

Lakewood, which left runners at first and second in the second, threatened in the third. J.P. Yakel ripped a one-out liner to left for the Lancers’ first hit of the game, and Jonathan Pasillas followed with a single to short left-center that resulted in him at second and Yakel at third. But Olivas got out of the jam.

The Lancers’ best chance to get into the game came in the sixth. Nick Reeser led off with a single and Danny Kaeka followed with a walk. But Olivas got a strikeout and a double play to get out of the inning unscathed.

“He did a phenomenal job,” Marina coach Robert Marshall said. “He’s a junior and he’s legit. He stepped up big time.”